Musical chameleon returns

Mark Lanegan. Photo / Supplied

Mark Lanegan, who plays two shows in New Zealand in July, started out in grunge pioneers Screaming Trees in the mid-80s. While he's had a solid solo career ever since, in the past 10 years especially he's become a musical chameleon, lending his uniquely tortured and battered voice to many musical projects. These include Queens of the Stone Age (best heard on classic album Songs for the Deaf), the Twilight Singers and the Gutter Twins (two projects with former Afghan Whig Greg Dulli), a gospel-tinged project with British electronic outfit Soulsavers, and on two albums as a duo with former Belle and Sebastian cellist and singer Isobel Campbell.

Though he has toured constantly with Dulli - both as a Gutter Twin and with Twilight Singers - this will be his first solo tour since he released Bubblegum in 2004. He will be performing songs from his entire back catalogue when he plays Wellington's Bar Bodega on July 2, and the Kings Arms on July 3. Tickets on sale May 21 from Ticketmaster.

Then in August, Canadian indie art rockers Broken Social Scene return to New Zealand for two shows - and hopefully there's a stage big enough for them. In the past the band led by Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning has swelled to upwards of 13 members.

They play San Francisco Bath House, Wellington, on August 6, and the Kings Arms on August 7 in support of their fourth album, Forgiveness Rock Record. Tickets on sale May 24 from undertheradar.co.nz and Real Groovy.

On the local band front I Am Giant (featuring former Blindspott drummer Shelton Woolright), Luger Boa and Black River Drive hit the pubs this winter on the State of Rock tour.

London-based I Am Giant made a name for themselves with their heavy and catchy debut single City Limits, and have just released second single Neon Sunrise with a video featuring surf legend Kelly Slater. The band's debut EP is out next month in time for the eight-date tour, which includes dates at Whangarei's Red Eye, June 25; Kentish Hotel, Waiuku, July 1; Altitude, Hamilton, July 2; the Brownzy, Auckland, July 9; and the Kings Arms, July 15.

Lastly, demand for tickets has seen the show by New York crazies Passion Pit on July 30 moved to the Powerstation.